Hawley Introduces Bill to Deny Pensions for Congressional Sex Offenders

The 'No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act' would strip federal pensions from lawmakers convicted of sex crimes.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:49pm by

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty government office desk in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political disillusionment and institutional decay.The proposed 'No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act' seeks to deny taxpayer-funded benefits to lawmakers convicted of sexual misconduct, reflecting growing public demands for greater accountability.San Francisco Today

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced legislation that would prohibit members of Congress convicted of felony sex crimes from receiving their taxpayer-funded federal pensions. The bill, called the 'No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act,' aims to close a loophole in current law that allows lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct to retain their pensions even after resigning from office.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation comes in the wake of recent high-profile resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who were both accused of sexual misconduct. Under current law, members of Congress must forfeit their pensions if convicted of certain felonies, but that provision does not apply to sex crime convictions. Hawley's bill seeks to hold lawmakers more accountable for abuses of power and breaches of public trust.

The details

Hawley's bill would amend federal law to require the forfeiture of congressional pensions for any member convicted of a felony sex crime. The move follows calls from Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) to ensure that Swalwell, Gonzales, and others in similar situations lose their taxpayer-funded benefits. Lawmakers are also eyeing Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who is the target of a House Ethics investigation on various allegations, including sexual misconduct.

  • On April 13, 2026, Rep. Tony Gonzales announced he would file for retirement after a second staff member claimed she received sexually explicit text messages from the married congressman.
  • In April 2026, Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress following allegations of sexual misconduct that were published in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.

The players

Sen. Josh Hawley

A Republican senator from Missouri who introduced the 'No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act' to strip federal pensions from lawmakers convicted of sex crimes.

Rep. Eric Swalwell

A former Democratic congressman from California who resigned from Congress following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Rep. Tony Gonzales

A Republican congressman from Texas who resigned from Congress after a second staff member claimed she received sexually explicit text messages from the married lawmaker.

Rep. Lauren Boebert

A Republican congresswoman from Colorado who called for Swalwell and Gonzales to lose their taxpayer-funded pensions.

Rep. Cory Mills

A Republican congressman from Florida who is the target of a House Ethics investigation on various allegations, including sexual misconduct.

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What they’re saying

“'Right now, a member of Congress can be convicted of sexual abuse and still receive a taxpayer-funded pension. That is unacceptable. I'm introducing legislation to end this loophole and ensure that lawmakers are never compensated with taxpayer dollars after such a breach of trust. The only thing the government should be paying for is a jail cell for these people.'”

— Sen. Josh Hawley

“'Former Congressman Eric Swalwell abused his position of power in Congress to assault and victimize women. Now as things stand, taxpayers will be sending him tens of thousands of dollars every year for the rest of his life. This is totally unacceptable.'”

— Rep. Lauren Boebert

What’s next

The 'No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act' introduced by Sen. Hawley will now go through the legislative process, with the potential for a vote in the Senate.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation aims to hold members of Congress more accountable for sexual misconduct by denying them taxpayer-funded pensions if convicted of felony sex crimes. It comes amid growing public outrage over lawmakers accused of abusing their positions of power and breaching the public trust.